Lakers’ Davis ‘100% healthy,’ ready to play
LOS ANGELES — When Anthony Davis’ right leg became too painful to play on two months ago, the big man and the Los Angeles Lakers decided he wouldn’t return until he was completely ready to be himself again.
More than two months later, Davis is confident that time has arrived with 14 regular-season games left in the Lakers’ push to defend their NBA title.
Davis intends to play tonight when the Lakers open a four-game road trip at Dallas, he said after a workout at the team’s training complex. He hasn’t suited up since Feb. 14, missing Los Angeles’ last 30 games in the longest injury absence of his nine-year NBA career.
“I wanted to make sure I was coming back 100 percent, because it wouldn’t be fair to myself, wouldn’t be fair to my team,” Davis said Wednesday. “I feel great. These last games leading to the playoffs, a lot of teams aren’t healthy, a lot of players aren’t healthy. I’m 100 percent, and we’ve got Bron coming back as well who’s going to be 100 percent healthy. I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position.”
Indeed, the Lakers (3523) have managed to stay in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference standings despite playing without Davis for nine weeks and without LeBron James since March 20. The Lakers went 14-16 without Davis, and they’re 7-9 since both Davis and James went down.
Coach Frank Vogel said James is still “probably a couple of weeks or so” away from returning from his sprained ankle.
Davis will start when he returns, but will only play about 15 minutes in his first game back. Vogel intends to monitor his superstar’s acclimation closely, and his return could be pushed back another game if Davis feels sore earlier in the day before the game.